Almost 50% of minors buying M rated games

[Shrygue]

via Games Industry (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=30887)


A survey has found that almost 50 per cent of minors in the US have been able to buy games rated M for Mature from retailers.

The study found that of over 60 stores nationwide, 46 per cent sold M rated games to consumers under the age of 18, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The survey was carried out by the East County Youth Coalition and the National Institute on Media and Family.

The findings back-up a report from the NIMF last year, which also found that half of retailers willingly sold adult games to a young audience.

This week, US senators began to put pressure on ESRB ratings, calling for a review of the system.

[Sterist]

via Games Industry (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=30887)


A survey has found that almost 50 per cent of minors in the US have been able to buy games rated M for Mature from retailers.

The study found that of over 60 stores nationwide, 46 per cent sold M rated games to consumers under the age of 18, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The survey was carried out by the East County Youth Coalition and the National Institute on Media and Family.

The findings back-up a report from the NIMF last year, which also found that half of retailers willingly sold adult games to a young audience.

This week, US senators began to put pressure on ESRB ratings, calling for a review of the system.

i'm not surprised the report was from san diego.

they weren't real strict here about age / ratings till about 2005, it was/is still easy to do after that though.

doesn't matter to me! i'm almost 19 now

[mike_jmg]

Lol

[kcajblue]

why does it even matter why they sell the M games to minors or not.
theyll get them some way or another.
and i bet there is nothing in the game they havent seen before. either that, or the game doesnt even need to be rated M.

[gummygod]

the M rating is for 17 and up. a 17 year old is a minor and is still allowed to purchase the game. idk why this study doesnt take into account this obvious fact. and im sure the percent would be lower.

[wolfpack]

and who's fault is this
*cough*
*the stores*

[splodger15]

lol reminds me of the time I brought GTA liberty city stories for the PS2 in my local HMV store no questions were I asked just handed him the money and walked out.

[JKKDARK]

Of course, the stores want to sell more and more games.

[SSaxdude]

I used to buy M rated games by myself up until around 2002-2003 when Illinois made a state law requiring you to be 17 to buy M rated games. Now, my parents just buy the games for me and they don't really care. I remember they bought me Duke Nukem 64 for Christmas when I was 6 and they bought me Mortal Kombat for the Genesis when I was about 4. It won't matter soon because I turn 17 next February.

[darkness angel 777]

that doesn't suprise me at all

[The King]

lol why does this matter at all tis just a game it aint like is going to scar somebody lol

[goliath182]

hmm I'm 15 and can buy any game in my country legally (Australia)

[NeoXCS]

Why are they reviewing the ESRB!? I'm still confused by this. I mean isn't it the store who is selling the game? The ESRB just rates the thing. How is it their fault if people buy the games they shouldn't? Sometimes I don't understand how the senate are so stupid. And I also noticed that they said 18. I don't see any problem here anyway, how many of these are scarred by this, or messed up? Doubt any of them. :rolleyes:

[Shadowblind]

Every Gamestore here requires you to have someone 18 or older with you. It gets more then annoying.

[Cerepol]

why are they pressuring the ERSB rating system instead of the stores? I'm really confused.

[JPJunkie]

I'm not surprised by this the shops just want to make a profit however they can